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J. A. HARVEY. APPARATUS FOR FREEING GUTTERS, STREET GROSSINGS, ANDSIDEWALKS (No Model.)

FROM IG E AND SNOW.

Patented Aug. 9, 1881.

WITNESS WWW N. PETKRS. FhntwLilhagnpMr. mum-man. n. r;

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PATENT JAMES A. HARVEY, OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT.

APPARATUS FOR FREEING GUTTERS, STREET-CROSSINGS, AND SIDEWALKS FROM ICEAND SNOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,490, dated August9, 1881.

Application filed May 27, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. HARVEY, of Burlington, in the county ofOhittenden and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Freeing Gutters, Street Crossings, andSidewalks from Ice and Snow; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will.

enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use it,reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for freeing gutters,street-crossings, and sidewalks from ice and snow, the object being toaccomplish such a result through the agency of devices combiningsimplicity of construction with efficiency and durability in use, andwhich are adapted to be maintained at a comparatively light expense.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective, showingthe application of my invention to a gutter, and also auXil-' iaryappliances by means of which the steam in the main pipes may be employedin thawing out frozen hydrants and in removing masses of snow and icebeyond the influence of the radiated heat. Fig. 2 shows, in verticalcross-section, the application of my improved apparatus to a gutter andcrossing. Fig. 3 is a view of one of the stools on which the pipes aresupported in their trenches. Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation of one ofthe plates forming the upper wall of the gutter trench. Fig. '5 is aside view thereof, and Fig. 6 is a view of one of the plates employed instreetcrossings provided with my apparatus.

A represents a trench running parallel with the curb O of the sidewalk.The side walls, B B, and the floor D of the said trench may be of anysuitable construction, provided only that the upper extremities of thewalls B B are adapted to receive and support the gutterplates E, andthat the floor Dis sufficiently level to ofier firm bearing for thestools F. It is, however, advisable, and the apparatus will give moreperfect satisfaction if the walls and floor of the trench arepractically air-tight, as it is desirable from economical reasons thatthe gutter-plates shall be heated to the highest possible degree withthe waste of the least possible amount of heat. The top of the trench,which, in fact, forms the gutter, is made up of a series ofslightlyconcaved iron plates, E, the edges of which rest on the upperextremities of the walls. The ends of said plates are adapted to lapover one another in such manner as to constitute a continuous trough.These plates are capable of beingin dividually removed, when it becomesnecessary to obtain access to the interior of the trench, with theoutlay of little trouble and without disturbing the rest of theirnumber.

Pipes G of varying diameter, as may be required, and connected with asuitable steam supply, are supportedcentrall y of the trenches uponstools F, which are of different heights, and arranged with reference tothe deflection which it is desired to impaft to the pipe to cause thewater produced by the condensation of steam therein to be collected, andto discharge the same into a sewer or other outlet. In Fig. 2 of thedrawings is shown oneof the devices employed for emptying water into thesewer. Said devices consist in a pipe, H, having communication with asection of the main pipe, and terminating at its lower end in avalve-chamber, I, in which is located a floatvalve, J, actuated inrising and falling movement by a hollow ball, K. When the valve J islifted from its val ve-seat L open com in unication is establishedbetween the pipe G and a sewer or other outlet. The operation ofthisvalve is very simple, and may be described as follows: The Water formedby condensation of steam within the pipe will accumulate in sinking toits lowest level in the chamber I aforesaid. When it has accumulatedtherein in sufficient quantities to float the ball K the valve will beopened and the water will be discharged into the sewer. Before-the waterhas been entirely discharged the ball will cease to be floated, thevalve will be closed, and the escape of steam thus prevented. Theseemptying devices described above, or their equivalents, are situated atevery deflection of the main pipe to discharge the water collected atsuch point andpermit the unimpeded passage of the steam. M represents asupply-pipe leading to the main pipe G, and N represents a pipeextending under the crossing to keep it dry and clear from ice and snow.The trench for a crossing should be built on the same principle as thatupon which the gutter-trenches are constructed, save only that theplates 1? should have a flat and preferably roughened surface. As to thesidewalks, the pipes may traverse them laterally or longitudinally asmay be deemed most expedient.

At or near every hydrant A ,I contemplate the arrangement of deviceswhereby a portion of steam from the pipe G may be conducted to them tothaw them out in case of freezing. This I accomplish by providing asection of the main pipe G with a hose attachment, A to which a hose, B,may be secured.

By inserting the free end of the hose into an orifice in the hydrant andturning on the steam through valve B I am enabled to quickly thaw outthe hydrant. Again, by providing hose of suitable lengths I am enabledto direct jets of steam onto and melt masses of ice and snow locatedbeyond the influence of the heat radiated from the pipes. The steam maybe derived from any suitable source, and may be generated especially forthe apparatus, or exhaust-steam from steam-heated buildings andfactories along the line of pipes may be conducted thereto and answerall the objects of invention. A high degree of heat for the plates isnot desired, as it will be sufiicient to keep them continuously heatedabove the freezingpoint. If such a degree ofheat is maintained, theaccumulation of ice and snow in the gutter may be at all times avoided.

From the description herein-above given the simplicity of constructionof the apparatus and the slight attention it demands are very apparent.It requires comparatively little steam, and in most instances that canbe obtained without the expense of running especial generatingapparatus.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exactconstruction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to makesuch slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit andscope of my invention.

I am awale that it is not new to locate heating-pipes beneath sidewalks,streets, and gutters, the pipes being embedded in the earth, and hence Imake no claim to such a system of heating. My improvement differs fromthe system of heating referred to in that I employ open trenches whichare covered by metallic gutters, the heating-pipes being located in theopen trenches in close proximity to the under surface of the metallicgutters.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a metallic gutter. of heating-pipes located ina trench formed beneath the gutter, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination,with a gutter composed of metal plates formed withoverlapping ends, of heating-pipes located in a trench formed beneaththe gutter, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a metal street-crossing, of heating-pipeslocated in a trench formed underneath said street-crossing,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a street-crosslng composed of metal platesformed with overlapping ends, of heating-pipes located in a trenchformed beneath the street-crossing, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with gutters and streetcrossing formed of removablemetal plates, of heating-pipes located in trenches formed beneath saidplates, and a series of stools graduated in height and arranged tosupport the heating-pipe at any angle of inclination, substantially asset forth.

6. The combination, with a series of steampipes for heating gutters,street-crossings, or sidewalks, of pipe-supporting stools arranged tosupport the pipes at any desired angle of inclination, and devicesconnected with the lowest points of the steam-pipes for automaticallydischarging thewater of condensation, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a system of steampipes for heating gutters,street-crossin gs, and sidewalks, of valve-chambers located beneath saidpipes and provided with conduits communicating therewith, andfloat-valves located within the valve-chambers and adapted toantomatically discharge the water of condensation without permitting theescape of steam, substantially as set forth.

8. The combinatiomwith metal gutters and steam-pipes located in trenchesformed beneath said gutters, of a hose-coupling for the attachment of ahose to convey steam to a by drant or other point or object,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this21st day of May, 1881.

JAMES A. HARVEY.

Witnesses:

M. G. SEYMOUR, W. O. ISHAM.

